Residents see new “chapel” condo plans

Would-be neighbors Thursday night got their first look at the latest design plan for the proposed condominium at the Chapel-by-the-Lake site –and what developers hope will be the one that earns the approval of the city commission on Tuesday.

But some residents at the meeting still were adamant that they never want to see the tower built.

The meeting at the Embassy Suites on Belvedere Road was hosted by the developers.

First Baptist Church, which owns the open-air chapel, just south of Okeechobee Boulevard and just across Flagler Drive from the church, has deal to sell the 3.2-acre property to developer Al Adelson for $23 million.

The project’s scope has been dropped at least four times. The latest configuration, revealed earlier this month, would go back to one tower;l eithera 22-story one or a narrower one of 25 feet.

Total size would drop from 425,000 square feet to 295,000 square feet. The number of units would be reduced from 96 to 75. And developers would add a public walkway along the Intracoastal Waterway behind it. the condo will have no boat docks or marina.

“Our building is narrower, shorter, and further to the north,” urban planner Kerry Kilday told about 90 people.